Head of the Central Election Committee Yaroslav Davydovych announces the preliminary results of parliamentary elections in Kyiv, March 30 (epa)
BRUSSELS, April 5, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- Ukraine's recent elections were welcomed at the European Parliament's plenary session in Strasbourg today as "exemplary."

Speaking for the parliament's largest faction, the right-wing People's Party, British deputy Charles Tannock said the EU must now "reward" Ukraine.

"The European Union must collectively do more to recognize that Ukraine has demonstrated political maturity and [is] fully respecting European norms of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law -- and we must now reward this irreversible process," he said.

Tannock said Ukraine should get an "association agreement" when its current partnership and cooperation treaty with the EU expires in 2007.

EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner said the EU will soon offer Ukraine a "stronger and deeper agreement" with the EU, but has made it clear that the offer will not entail the promise of EU membership.

RFE/RL's Election Coverage

Click on the image for background and archived articles about Ukraine's March 26 elections.

Click on the image to see RFE/RL's coverage of the Ukrainian elections in Ukrainian.

Click on the image to view a photo gallery of some of the key players in the Ukrainian elections.